International Art Residence First Prize Winning Design / Team Shishka
Team Shishka shared with us their 1st prize winning proposal in the International Art Residence Design Concept Competition in Nikola Lenivets, Russia. As stars in the cosmos, buildings and residences are spread on the site while connected with basic infrastructure. This system takes maximal advantage of the landscape, yet has minimal impact on nature. Within the flexible framework of plan, Nikola Lenivets can be experienced during every moment of the day, the whole year long. More images and the team’s description after the break.
Time Running Out for Melnikov House
The Melnikov House, the unusual, cylindrical classic of Constructivism which was Konstantin Melnikov’s residence and studio, is on the brink of collapse.
The Independent reports that nearby construction (which visibly moves the ground the building sits on) has weakened the 83-year-old foundations dangerously. Konstantin Melnikov’s grand-daughter (and current resident of the house), Ekaterina Karinskaya, further told The Independent that, due to broken heating pipes, the wooden house spent more than 50 days without heating in what were often sub-zero temperatures.
Although there have been interests expressed to turn the house into a museum, a tense legal debate between Ms. Karinskaya and a developer has put any plans on stand-still. Meanwhile, time is running out for the architectural icon.
More on the Melnikov House debate, after the break…
Artist Residence Competition Entry / Talmon Biran Architecture Studio
Located in Nikola Lenivets Park in Kaluga, Russia, this proposal for the Artist Residence, which was shortlisted in the design competition, suggests the typology of a campus, a condensed layout providing the facilities for all of the artist residence community– living, learning and creating. Designed by Talmon Biran Architecture Studio, in collaboration with architect Ana Leschinsky, the proposed scheme is open ended, allowing flexibility and future growth while integrating the buildings within the landscape. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Museum and Educational Center of the Polytechnic Museum and Lomonosov Moscow State University Design Competition
The Polytechnic Museum Development Foundation recently announced the international architectural design competition for the Museum and educational center of the Polytechnic Museum and Lomonosov Moscow State University. The project provides for a total project area of 35,000 square meters on the land plot with a total area of 1 Ha located on the new territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The objective is to create a museum and educational center for demonstrating most recent scientific and technological discoveries using state-of-the-art multimedia technologies for accommodating multiple displays and exhibitions as well as for conducting scientific educational programs. The deadline to register and for submissions is November 19. For more information, please visit here.
Kuntsevo Centre / The Jerde Partnership
The Kuntsevo Centre, designed by The Jerde Partnership, will provide a new stage for dynamic public activity and distinct commercial offerings in central Moscow. The pedestrian-oriented center will establish a vibrant leisure, shopping, business, and residential complex reconnecting the urban fabric of the historic Kuntsevo district, while creating a new landmark for the city. Delivering a modern community gathering destination rooted in art, nature, and urban connectivity, the project’s design enhances its potential to become a continuously active public realm. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Zukovka-21 / Asadov Architectural Studio
Architects: Asadov Architectural Studio
Location: Moscow, Russia
Architect In Charge: A.Asadov, AAAsadov, O.Grigoreva
Year: 2011
Area: 5,980 sqm
Consultant: S.Kulish
Engineer: G.Karklo
Interiors: Laboratory of Virtual Architecture – D.Kulish, A.Karpova
Photographs: Andrey Asadov
Video: 24 Hours in Moscow
Widely accepted as one of the most beautiful and architectural capitals in the world, Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia, radiating Slavic grandeur and a sense of things to come. Here, TV presenter Martyn Andrews takes Crane.tv on a tour of the Red Square, which houses everything from St Basil’s Cathedral to Lenin’s Mausoleum.
The Lost Vanguard: Soviet Modernist Architecture, 1922-32
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts will be hosting an exhibition on Russian Modernist Architecture starting October 11 through February 16, 2013. Featuring a wealth of rarely published material on architecture that spanned the empire of the Soviet Union, the 80+ large-scale photographs – documented by British photographer Richard Pare – provide unique insight into the movements of the Soviet revolutionary period. More photos and information after the break.
Temple in Antis / AG “LesoSplaw”
Located on a hill, on the open area of the landscape, the simplest of a Greek temple is the templum in antis, a small rectangular structure. Designed by the AG ‘LesoSplaw’ team, in front of the cella, a small porch or pronaos was formed. With the protruding cella walls being the antae, the pronaos was linked to the cella by a door. To support the superstructure, two columns were placed between the fronts of the antae (in antis)using straw for the temple material. More images can be viewed after the break.
Badoo Development Office / za bor Architects
Architects: za bor Architects
Location: Moscow, Russia
Project Year: 2012
Project Area: 1,100 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of za bor Architects
Winning Team Announced for Moscow Expansion
An international jury has selected Capital Cities Planning Group (CCPG), an Anglo-American team including Gillespies, John Thompson & Partners and Buro Happold, as winners for the design and planning of the new Federal District in Moscow.
Earlier this year, the Russian Federal Government announced that it was doubling the territory of Moscow to enable it to grow into a competitive 21st century world capital. In response, Genplan, Moscow’s city planner, earmarked an area of 155km2 to the south-west of the city for a new Federal Government Centre, aiming to relieve inner-city congestion through the relocation of the capital’s major employer. Ten international teams were invited to develop strategies and designs for the region during a six month, three stage competition. Continue reading to learn more.
AD Interviews: Sergei Tchoban & Sergey Kuznetsov (SPEECH) i-city at the Venice Biennale
During the opening of the 13th Venice Biennale, we had the chance to talk with Sergei Tchoban and Sergey Kuznetsov, partners at SPEECH and curators of i-City, the Russian pavilion, awarded with a Special Mention at the Biennale.
i-City presents us the Strolkovo Innovation Center, a new development that aims to concentrate intellectual capital around five clusters (IT, Biomed, Energy, Space, Nuclear Tech), with projects by David Chipperfield, SANAA, OMA, Herzog & de Meuron, Stefano Boeri, SPEECH, Valode & Pistre architectes and Mohsen Mostafavi among others (more details about the project itself in a future article).
An interesting project, presented in detail with a big amount of information that remains invisible inside the space of the pavilion. A series of QR Codes wrap the inside of the Russia pavilion spaces, and all you can sense at first is light and space. At the entrance you are provided with a tablet, and you walk around the pavilion scanning these codes to obtain the information about Strolkovo.
On the lower level, a dark interior is perforated with peep holes that show images of former Soviet Scientific Towns, a legacy from the past that serves as background of the Strolkovo project.
Yandex Saint Petersburg Office II / za bor architects
Architects: za bor architects
Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Architect In Charge: Arseniy Borisenko and Peter Zaytsev
Project Year: 2012
Project Area: 3,310 sqm
Photographs: Peter Zaytsev
In Progress: Primorsky Aquarium / OJSC Primorgrajdanproekt
Architects: OJSC Primorgrajdanproekt
Location: Vladivostok, Russia
Project Leader: Igor Moskalenko
Design Team: Yulia Otlyachkina, Victor Zaycev, Anna Ushakova, Sergey Skobelev
Project Year: 2010
Project Area: 35,000 sqm
Photographs: Alexander Hitrov
Sberbank Corporate University / Erick van Egeraat
Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat recently won the international competition for the new 32.000m2 Sberbank corporate University. As Russia’s largest and oldest state run bank with over 250.000 employees and 20.000 branch offices in the country, the new Sberbank University will provide education, seminars, and team building programs to the company’s top professionals to continuously improve their performance within the corporate standards. The Sberbank University is expected to be completed in 2013. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Venice Biennale 2012: i-city / Russia Pavilion
The first national pavilion that we visited was the Russia pavilion, curated by Sergei Tchoban. The exhibit, designed by SPEECH Techoban / Kuznetsov (Sergei Tchoban, Sergey Kuznetsov, Marina Kuznetskaya, Agniya Sterligova), showcases the Strolkovo Innovation Center, a new development that aims to concentrate intellectual capital around five clusters (IT, Biomed, Energy, Space, Nuclear Tech), with projects by David Chipperfield, SANAA, OMA, Herzog & de Meuron, Stefano Boeri, SPEECH, Valode & Pistre architectes and Mohsen Mostafavi among others (more details about the project itself in a future article).
An interesting project, presented in detail with tons of information, yet invisible inside the space of the pavilion. A series of QR Codes wrap the inside of the Russia pavilion spaces, and all you can sense at first is light and space. At the entrance you are provided with a tablet, and you walk around the pavilion scanning these codes to obtain the information about Strolkovo.
On the lower level, a dark interior is perforated with peep holes that show images of former Soviet Scientific Towns, a legacy from the past that serves as background of the Strolkovo project.
What we liked about this pavilion is the fact that technology is used as a medium, and what prevails is light and space, a particular atmosphere that wraps you in information, in an intangible way.
This pavilion was awarded with a Special Mention at the Biennale, “the ‘i-city’ takes a dialectic approach to Russia’s past, present and future and in the process turns us all into digital spies. The jury was drawn into this magical mystery tour and beguiled by its visual presentation.”
We had the chance to interview Sergei Tchoban and Sergey Kuznetsov, we will post the video later on.More photos by architectural photographer Patricia Parinejad (who will be featured in our next AD Photographers series) and Nico Saieh after the break:
Tube Pavilion / Megabudka
Designed by Megabudka for Sretenka Design Week in Moscow, the key aim of the Tube Pavilion is to demonstrate how a space can be completely transformed with simple means. Created using one hundred lighting, or mirror tubes, at such a density of supports, the roof structure can be reduced to a minimum. If a mirror surface is used in combination with numerous tubes and a thin roof structure, a very interesting effect is created. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Venice Biennale 2012: Russian pavilion presents Innovation city “Skolkovo”
Inspired by the great potential of advanced information technology providing architectural solutions, the Russian pavilion of the 2012 Venice Biennale will feature the innovation city of Skolkovo. Skolkovo is one of the largest, most innovative Russian projects of today and has been worked on by many international architects, including Biennale director David Chipperfield. The exhibition will allow visitors to enter into the world of innovation city and use the newest IT-technologies to contribute to the research. Over the Biennale’s three month period, participants will be able to watch the exhibit’s virtual city of Skolkovo evolve as each international visitor leaves their mark.
Continue reading for more.
Symbolic Object Dedicated to Russian Avant-Garde Competition
The Siberian Center for Contemporary Art and Siberian Center for the Promotion of Architecture is inviting all to participate in the open international competition for the architectural concept of the symbolic object of city environment dedicated to Russian avant-garde (or to El Lissitzky). In Russia there are no monuments either to the Russian avant-garde movement or to Russian avant-gardist. That is why this project is unique. The realization of this project will be significant for the city and Russia and it will underline the importance of Novosibirsk as one of the centers of Russian constructivist architecture. The deadline to register is October 1 and the deadline for submissions is no later than October 2. For more information, please visit here.
Summer Cafe / DarkDesignGroup
With a given task to design a temporary summer outdoor cafe with a very limited budget, DarkDesignGroup decided to use basic materials for the walls and roof slabs, which will allow the cafe to be more easily dismantled in the fall. Through the creative use of the OSB on a wood frame, they are able to create a dynamic form which invites the public inside and also allows them to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere. By manipulating the wood frame, they take advantage of the different ways to create openings, which make for an exciting piece of architecture. More images after the break.
